Arsenal dismantles Manchester City in 5-1 victory

Arsenal delivered a stunning 5-1 victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, putting a dent in City’s hopes of retaining the title. The emphatic win at the Emirates Stadium saw the Gunners take another step in their pursuit of the Premier League crown, remaining six points behind leaders Liverpool, with the Reds still having a game in hand. The result also fueled Arsenal’s rivalry with City, particularly after Erling Haaland’s controversial comments earlier this season.

Early mistakes lead to quick Arsenal lead

The tension between the two sides was evident from the opening moments of the match. City made a costly error in the build-up just 90 seconds into the game. John Stones passed to Manuel Akanji, but the Swiss defender mishandled the ball, allowing Leandro Trossard to pounce. After a quick exchange between Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, the ball found its way to Martin Ødegaard, who calmly slotted home Arsenal’s opening goal to give the Gunners a 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães celebrated passionately, directing his celebration towards City’s star striker, Erling Haaland. The tension between the two teams was rooted in past incidents, particularly after the controversial 2-2 draw at the Etihad in September 2024, when Haaland had a verbal exchange with Arteta, and later taunted Arsenal players with the words, “Stay humble.”

Haaland strikes but Arsenal quickly responds

Despite their early setback, City responded when Haaland headed in a cross from Savinho to equalize at 1-1. However, just moments after, Arsenal regained the lead. A loose pass from City’s Phil Foden allowed Thomas Partey to collect the ball and fire a shot off the back of John Stones, putting Arsenal 2-1 up.

As the match progressed, the rivalry between Arsenal and City took center stage. Haaland, while playing his part in City’s brief resurgence, had been taunted by Arsenal fans and players throughout the game, with chants and celebrations aimed directly at the Norwegian striker. In a moment of defiance, Haaland pointed to the Premier League logo on his arm, reminding the Arsenal faithful of his past successes, having already won two Premier League titles with City.

Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori shine for Arsenal

The game was far from over, and in the second half, Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure. The young 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had been part of the verbal altercations with Haaland earlier in the season, took center stage in the 3-1 scoreline. After receiving a clever pass from Declan Rice, Lewis-Skelly struck a beautiful shot with his right foot, sending the ball into the back of the net, and celebrated by mimicking Haaland's signature “meditating” celebration. It was a symbolic moment of payback for the young Arsenal player, who had clearly remembered Haaland’s taunts.

Kai Havertz, who had missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 earlier in the match, made no mistake in the 4-1 goal. And to cap off a perfect evening for Arsenal, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who has been impressing in his limited appearances, scored a stunning long-range shot in injury time, securing a 5-1 win for the Gunners.

City’s title hopes all but over

While Haaland’s performance was noteworthy, City’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title seem all but over. Sitting 15 points behind Liverpool, with only a handful of games left in the season, the defending champions now face an uphill battle to reclaim the top spot. Arsenal, on the other hand, still holds hope as they remain six points behind the leaders and can now look forward to the upcoming weeks with renewed confidence.

Arsenal fans celebrate, Haaland continues to be targeted

Arsenal’s victory was not just about the points but also about their continued defiance against Manchester City’s dominance. Even the stadium DJ played a part in the celebration, playing “Sit Down, Be Humble” by Kendrick Lamar, a song that was well received by Arsenal supporters. The song, which was directed at Haaland, symbolized the rivalry between the two clubs, making it clear that Arsenal has now set its sights on reclaiming the Premier League title. With Arsenal’s remarkable win, they remain firmly in the race, alongside surprise contenders Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s hopes of a third consecutive Premier League title have been all but dashed. As the season progresses, Arsenal will need to maintain their momentum and keep their focus, while City will be hoping to regroup and recover from what could be a season-ending defeat.